Garment-hanger



W. GOWEN. GARMENT HANGER.

N0. 401843. Patented Apr. 23, 1889.

(No Model.)

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.UNITEIl STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GOWEN, OF WVAUSAU,-WISCONSIN.

GARMENT-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,943, dated April 23, 1889.

Application filed October 5, 1886- Serial lio- 215,499. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GoWEN, of W'ausau, in the county of Marathon and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Hangers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The obj ects of my invention are, first, to adjust the hanger to suit garments of various sizes; second, to reduce it to a small compass for transportation, and, third, to maintain the proper shape'of the garment supported thereon.

It consists, essentially, of forming the hanger .in sections arranged to shut or slide past each other, so as reduce or increaseits length.

' In the accompanying drawings, like letters designate the same or similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is aside elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the adj usting-clamp. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one side of a modified form of the coathanger, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same.

The hanger is composed of two sections, A A, formed of copper or brass wire, or any other suitable material, and each, preferably, bent horizontally in a U' form, and curved downwardly toward the outer end, substantially as shown in the drawings, to conform to the general shape of the shoulder and to spread and support the coat or garment, as nearly as practicable, in the position or form it assumes upon the wearer. The limbs of the sections A A are inserted between the plates 1) b of the adjusting-clamp B in transverse grooves formed in their adjacent faces, as seen in Fig. 3, and are rigidly secured in place by the thumb-screw O, which passes through a perforation in the upper plate I; and engages with an internally screw threaded perforation in the lower plate I).

By loosening the thumb-screw C the sections A A may be adjusted to fit a coat of any size or slid together into a small compass, so as to be conveniently carried in a valise or small hand-bag.

The thumb-screw O is perforated, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of suspending the hanger from a hook, peg, cord, or the like.

My improved device will be found particularly useful for hanging garments which have been wet or dampened, as it will hold them in place while they are drying, and will thus preserve their shape. It will also be found very convenient for traveling men, on account of the facility with which it may be packed and transported.

In the modified form of my improved hanger shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the sections A A are each bent back from their inner toward their outer ends into the limbs A A, a little above and inside of the main portion of said sections, with which they form in cross-section arching supports conforming more perfectly to the shape of the shoulder of a coat or similar garment.

The outer ends of the sections A may be split, so as to allow them to spring outwardly, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 4, and thus fill out the shoulder of the coat or other garment. The screw 0 may also be inserted in the clamp B from below and a ring or loop, 0, for hanging, formed on or attached to the upper plate I) of said clamp, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In short, I do not wish to confine myself to any particular means for holding the sections A A in place when adjusted, as any desections, a screw connecting said sections, and

two arms held between the sections of said. clamp. and longitudinally adjustable therein, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. cowEN.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. L. Goss, M. E. BENSON. 

